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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Vinnie Leonard is one of the Dundalk FC players to represent his country at the U17 World Cup in Qatar. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Dundalk FC duo Vinnie Leonard and 16-year-old Seán Spaight have been named in Colin O'Brien's Republic of Ireland U17 squad for next month's FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
The squad fly out next week to their first ever FIFA Under-17s World Cup with 16 of the group having come through the League of Ireland pyramid. Ireland have been drawn in Group J along with Panama, Uzbekistan and Paraguay.
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The tournament begins on Monday, November 3 with Ireland’s opening game on Wednesday, November 5 against Panama at 12.30pm Irish time.
The young Boys in Green are next in action against Asian opposition in Uzbekistan which will take place 3.45pm on Saturday, November 8.
They then play their final group game against Paraguay on Tuesday, November 11 – kick-off 1.30pm Irish time.
This is the fifth major tournament at this age grade for O’Brien with his squad qualifying for the World Cup following a 2-0 win over Poland and a 5-0 victory over Iceland in the Elite Round of the U17 EURO Qualifiers.
Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: George Moloney (Southampton), Alex Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Corey Sheridan (Finn Harps).
Defenders: Ryan Butler (Wexford), Josh Cullen (Finn Harps), Vinnie Leonard (Dundalk FC), Ade Solanke (FC Lorient), Oisin McDonagh (Venezia), Finn Sherlock (Hoffenheim), Seán Spaight (Dundalk FC).
Midfielders: Rory Finneran (Newcastle United), Ramon Martos (UD Almeria), Grady McDonnell (Club Brugge), Kian McMahon-Brown (Burnley), Goodness Ogbonna (UCD), Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers).
Forwards: Max Kovalevskis (Shamrock Rovers), Brody Lee (Cork City), Gavin McAteer (Finn Harps), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Jaden Umeh (SL Benfica).
Republic of Ireland FIFA Under-17 World Cup Fixtures/Schedule
Wednesday, November 5 | Panama vs Ireland, Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar, kick-off 12.30pm*
Saturday, November 8 | Ireland vs Uzbekistan, Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar, kick-off 3.45pm*
Tuesday, November 11 | Ireland vs Paraguay, Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar, kick-off 1.30pm*
Friday, November 14 | Round of 32
Tuesday, November 18 | Round of 16
Friday, November 21 | Quarter Final
Monday, November 24 | Semi Final
Thursday, November 27 | Final
*Kick-offs are Irish time.
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